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Fort Bliss and what it represents in shaping our community, our culture, our safety and the lives of those in the Sun City, is a valuable piece in what El Paso is and what it can become.

The many soldiers and families who call Fort Bliss home are important, welcome additions to the area. Although some may spend a brief period of time in our city, the memories will last a lifetime.

The people of El Paso are the kindest you can ever meet. Many of the soldiers are actively involved in the community in making it a special type of partnership unlike any other in the United States.

The 1960s and 1970s saw a majority of those children at Fort Bliss attend Burges High School, making it the largest in the city, if not the state. Over the years, Burges has seen many students of excellence walk its halls.

One particular family features a husband and wife who left an indelible mark in education, community giving and athletics, and have served as a great inspiration to all who know them.

James J. Crouch and Lillian Crouch have been married 60 years. Their children, Michelle Crouch Amdall, Kevin Crouch, Michael Crouch and the oldest, although now deceased, is Frederick Crouch – all graduates of Burges.

James Crouch(Photo: Courtesy)

Lillian Crouch worked 32 years with the El Paso Independent School District as an administrator supreme. She was a great mentor and role model to hundreds of students, teachers and administrators.

James Crouch served 30 years in the Army before retiring as a CW4 (chief warrant officer),and then followed that up with 32 years as a civilian employee at Fort Bliss before retiring in 2010 as the highest ranking African-American civilian employee in the history of Fort Bliss as a GM-14.

Crouch, who is now 88 years old, spent 62 years of his life in the military. Although he was excellent at his day job, his night job was one of hall-of-fame credentials, and even more so were his athletic accomplishments.

Born in Dallas, Crouch was deployed throughout the world to countries, such as Germany, Japan and Korea, and to states, such as Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Florida.

Inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 in the Referee Category, Crouch should also be considered for the El Paso Softball Hall of Fame. He played center field for the legendary Dautrich Jacks Realtors teams in the early 1960s. The team included Charlie Smith, Kenny Wycoff, Ivan Rechy, Bert Williams and Paul “Hoss” Lopez. That team won the International Softball Congress World Tournament in Rock Island, Ill., in 1961 and 1962. Crouch followed that with a stint with Yarbrough Home Builders in 1963, again qualifying for the ISC World Tournament.

A decade later, Crouch was still active in softball, playing in the Fort Bliss Army Championships and the All-Army Softball Tournament.

But, the area where Crouch is most known is that of a basketball and volleyball official.

He started in Dallas as a teen, keeping the book and the time. He quickly escalated to wearing those famed stripes. He is often called the “rules master” for his interpretation of rules for high school volleyball and basketball by the University Interscholastic League.

The Texas Association of Sports Officials also has honored him several times over the years for being an outstanding sports clinician. He has served as president of both the local basketball and volleyball associations. His mentorship of many young officials is also well-documented.

Crouch refereed more than 14,000 games in his distinguished career, including high school volleyball, girls and boys basketball, Fort Bliss and El Paso Parks and Recreation Department city leagues.

Gene Semko, a member of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame, attended school with the Crouch children and knew the patriarch from referee circles.

“Jim Crouch would take you under his wing and really show you the ropes," he said. "He was classy, unexcitable and didn’t raise his voice during the game. He is a gold nugget in being very precious in the world of refereeing, and overall just an All-American family.”

Perhaps the most notable of Crouch's achievements was his attention to the area's youth.

Crouch, Bill Mallard and Archie Hartsfield were the caretakers of hundreds of children. They would look out for them when their fathers were deployed. They got them involved in sports or some type of extracurricular activity, and watched over them, keeping them out of harm’s way.

Crouch is experiencing some health issues today, but his spirit, drive and the words of wisdom that he and his wife have given to thousands of young people during their lives will always reign supreme.